By Kevin Boneske
Staff Writer
HOWARD – The 2019 budget process is now in progress with the village board already having held multiple meetings.
Board members held a special meeting Thursday, Oct. 4, and had another budget workshop Monday, Oct. 8, on the village’s revenues and expenditures for next year.
As currently proposed, the property tax levy for the village’s 2019 budget that will include the general fund and capital projects fund would total $6,257,567, an increase of $110,720, or 1.8 percent.
Director of Administrative Services Chris Haltom said the village is allowed by the state to increase its tax levy by that amount based on new construction.
Haltom said the projected mill rate for village purposes comes to around $4.02 per $1,000, which would be an increase of around 9.5 cents or 2.41 percent.
Though total general fund expenditures are currently projected at more than $10.3 million for next year, the general fund tax levy would be $4,936,800 with more than $5.4 million in other revenues, such as $765,800 intergovernmental revenue the village expects to receive.
On the expenditure side, public works and public safety would account for the largest portion of the general fund with each budgeted for next year at more than $2.9 million.
The village currently has more than $1.32 million budgeted in the property tax levy for capital projects.
Board members plan to discuss capital projects at their next meeting Oct. 22.
The village usually completes its budget process in mid to late November.